Lowland League | Cross-border clash brings curtain down on special season

Posted on Friday, April 21st, 2023

The Spartans head across the Border to bring the curtain down on their Lowland League title winning campaign where they take on Berwick Rangers at Shielfield Park in the final game league match of the season.

Dougie Samuel’s side’s season, which has spanned over 10 gruelling months so far, saw the team scoring as many goals as match points accrued and having the best defensive record in the Lowland League, with just 0.91 goals conceded per game ahead of Saturday’s visit beyond Hadrian’s Wall.

Spartans and the Borderers have rich history of playing against each other throughout the lifetime of the Ainslie Park side, with fixtures against the Wee Gers Reserves a mainstay in the calendar from the 1950s onwards.

Since the 2019-20 season, there have been 5 Lowland League meetings, with an undefeated tally for Spartans featuring four wins and a draw.

Whilst Spartans go into the game as Champions, there is still plenty to play for as preparations for the play-offs continue for the tourists.  Meanwhile, the rejuvenated Berwick side have made good ground in the table in recent times, losing just once in their last five outings and they’ll be keen to leapfrog East Kilbride to secure sixth spot.

Last time:

Blair Henderson bagged a brace of penalties in a win that saw the width of the post deny Berwick a late injury time equaliser.

The visitors were sporting their bright away jerseys in the colours of Northumbria and took the lead after Cameron Graham and Blair Carswell collided in the box with the ball trundling over the line.  Rhys Armstrong’s deflected header saw Spartans get back on level terms and he won a penalty just before half time which Blair Henderson slotted home.

When Lewis Barr manhandled Mikey Allan in the box, Blair Henderson had the opportunity to slot home his second of the night.  The third penalty of the evening fell Berwick’s way which set up a nervy final few minutes where Spartans had the post to thank after Barr’s shot hit the woodwork in the dying moments.

Match Day Info:

Admission £10, Concessions £5 Under 12s Free with Adult.  More info here